Historic Springfield was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It was designated as a historic area for its unique assembly of houses, not because of individual landmarks. This ordinance amendment introduced by Council Members Lee and Jones threatens to destroy what precious little fabric we have left in our neighborhood. This amendment would allow the Municipal Code and Compliance department to demolish sound structures that have sat vacant for twenty-four months or more with little regard for their place on the National Register.  Owners of condemned historic homes would be given a 60-day notice to mothball or pull a permit to begin rehab.  If the owner is non-responsive, their home will be demolished.  We take great issue with this! We value our historic neighborhood and the homes within. Demolition is not sustainable. Our environment is impacted negativity by not revitalizing and preserving the housing stock we currently have; there are other means to eradicate blight as opposed to razing sound structures.  How? Homes with absent/non-responsive owners can be mothballed by Code Enforcement as opposed to demolished. Existing code, as written, provides the option to the city to secure and mothball a property. This action of mothballing maintains a safe property, eliminates blight, and protects the home for future habitation.  The auctions in Springfield in the early 90s were successful, revisiting this program and developing something similar that will place these homes into the hands of a willing and able owner will revitalize the Urban Core and increase the tax base for Jacksonville.